Sparked by the dominating pitching of Hailee Rios and a potent offense, the Goleta 10-under Thunder girls softball team won the Central California ASA Championship national qualifying tournament in Santa Maria.
The Thunder, an all-star squad from the Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association, outscored their opponents 40-5 and hit an impressive .469 as a team during the two-day tournament.
Rios, meanwhile, was nearly untouchable on the mound. She struck out 30 over 15 innings and didn’t allow an earned run. She threw a pair of two-hitters.
Rios, Lauren Buie (second base), Anya Schmitz (third base) and Siena Wagner (outfield) were named to the All Central California team.
In addition to those players, Goleta’s 10U Thunder roster includes Nicole Bennett, Cassidy Cole, Cassy Hagel, Carly Holland, AJ Leipner-Huerta, Casey Rickman, Janet Salas and Samantha Yanes. The team is managed by AJ Rios and coached by Willy Hagel, Dave Huerta and Bill Wagner.
The Goleta 10U Thunder defeated teams from Nipomo, Sanger, Bakersfield and Santa Maria to earn a berth in the ASA Western Nationals in Tucson, Ariz., Aug. 2-8.
The Goleta 12U Thunder also qualified for the Western Nationals. They’ll play in Las Cruces, N.M.
Both all-star teams are accepting donations to help with the travel costs.
Donations should be made through the Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association, Attn: 10U and 12U Nationals Fund, P.O. Box 1286, Goleta, CA 93116.
